Marlborough’s 2015 vintage is shaping up to be another impressive year, thanks to a hot, dry growing season.

Whitehaven Wines senior winemaker Sam Smail says veraison has begun bang on schedule despite a slow start to the season.

“People probably won’t remember because we’ve had such a great summer - but we had some pretty cool weather in December,” he says.

“The warm weather over the summer holidays has brought things forward again, and we’re expecting harvest to start in the last week of March as usual.”

While Marlborough holiday makers have been enjoying the long hot summer, it was a challenge for grape growers to ensure the vines got enough water during veraison, Sam says.

“At this time of year the vines need twice as much water as usual.”    

Extensive irrigation schemes and water storage systems enable growers to provide adequate moisture despite the lack of rain.

Vineyard crews are busy netting Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir crops this week to prevent pesky birds feasting on the ripening fruit, while the cellar team are emptying and cleaning tanks and barrels in preparation for harvest later next month. 

In more exciting news - we were excited to receive some fantastic results in the latest Cuisine Magazine Wine Tasting.

Whitehaven Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2013 received 4-Stars and Best Buy while our Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014 also received 4 Stars.